Charlotte City Council Business Meeting - February 10, 2025

The Charlotte City Council met on February 10, 2025, at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The meeting included a consent agenda, three public hearings on voluntary annexations, a major policy discussion on violence as a public health crisis, a vote on the Arts, Science, and Culture Governance Board, and approval of multiple transportation, housing, and financial items. Key votes included approval of three annexations, acceptance of federal grants for road safety studies, and a deferral of condemnation proceedings for three properties in Davidson. The council also approved the Arts, Science, and Culture Governance Board participation by an 8-vote majority.

Consent Calendar

• Items 25–44 were approved on a single motion, except for items pulled for separate consideration: Item 34 (meeting minutes) was approved; Items 37, 38, and 39 (condemnation for Davidson sewer outfall) were pulled and later deferred to the February 24, 2025 business meeting after a failed motion to approve and a successful motion to defer.
• Item 34 (Minutes of June–September 2024 meetings) was approved with a 1–0 vote after discussion about the backlog; the City Clerk reported that the vendor is working through October 2024 minutes and expects to complete 2024 minutes by March 24, 2025. Committee meetings are available on YouTube, with action minutes posted before the next committee meeting.
• Item 43 (Folger Drive property acquisition) was pulled but the discussion is not detailed; it likely remained in consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tommy Odom, attorney representing property owners (Davis, May, Hennighausen families), spoke against the condemnation of three properties for the Davidson Eastern Rocky River Sanitary Sewer Outfall (Items 37–39). He argued the condemnation was for a private developer, would be unlawful and unconstitutional, and asked the council to deny the actions. He stated the sewer line was not originally in the CIP until the developer approached Charlotte Water.
• Thomas Powers, Charlotte Water attorney, responded that the project meets the public purpose test under state law, as it is part of a larger CIP project requested by the town of Davidson in 2016. He explained that the developer is building infrastructure under a reimbursement agreement and that the city will own and maintain the sewer line. The city attorney stated that the public purpose challenge can be raised in court after condemnation is initiated.

Discussion Items

• Violence as a Public Health Crisis (Action Review Item 4) – A 30-minute presentation followed by 50 minutes of council discussion. Presenters included:
  • Dr. Raynard Washington (Mecklenburg County Public Health) – Overview of the Office of Violence Prevention, the “Way Forward” community plan, and progress since 2019. Key data: The plan aims to reduce gun violence by 10% over five years; over 1,000 gun locks distributed; Peacekeepers Academy graduated 22 organizations; youth advisory council with 100+ youth; and a core team including city manager, county manager, police chief, sheriff, and CMS.
  • Britney Brown and Dr. Morgan Maxwell (Atrium Health) – Project Boost, a hospital-based violence intervention program. Since January 2022, 270 patients encountered, 131 enrolled (95% male, 85% African American, 91% firearm injury, ages 16–18). 63% of enrolled patients reside in Mecklenburg County, representing 19 zip codes. Recidivism: approximately 12% of enrolled patients returned to the hospital (over 88% did not). Of those reached at 90-day follow-up, nearly 69% were making progress toward goals. The program identified a need for 24/7 coverage; 104 of 149 eligible patients were missed due to limited staffing hours. Federal funding of $963,000 was awarded to extend services to 2028.
  • Dr. Raquishela Stewart (Housing and Neighborhood Services) – Alternatives to Violence (ATV) program using the Cure Violence model, operating since 2021 with three sites (Beatties Ford, West Boulevard, Nations Ford/Arrowwood). Activities: 76 community events engaging 3,500 residents; staff with lived experience mediate conflicts; example: averted a violent confrontation between two individuals and their families. Success stories: one participant rose from program participant to YAP program manager; another staff member (Donnell) was named one of the Great 28 Black Charlottans 2025. ATV is funded by city, county, Wells Fargo, Green Light Fund.
  • Council Discussion: Multiple council members (Graham, Driggs, Bokhari, Mayfield, Watlington, Brown, Johnson, Molina, Ajmera) shared concerns about persistent violent crime, perception of public safety, need for enforcement, and the role of the courts and DA. Council member Graham noted specific incidents (Uptown shooting, open-air drug sales) and called for parallel action. Council member Bokhari supported a data-driven approach to identify a small number of repeat offenders responsible for disproportionate crime. Council member Watlington supported the 45-day data analysis proposal. Council member Johnson raised questions about head injuries and behavioral health screening. Council member Brown emphasized the importance of people with lived experience and community involvement. Council member Ajmera asked about scaling programs and funding for the DA’s office.
  • Next Steps: Sean Heath (City Manager’s Office) proposed two options: (1) continue deep-dive series on topics like CMPD crime management, corridors, uptown quality of life, juvenile crime; or (2) a 45-day data analysis and insights project by the City Manager’s Office, CMPD, and IT to provide actionable policy and budget recommendations. The City Manager recommended option 2, and council members generally supported it; the 45-day period will be used without pausing existing efforts.
• Arts, Science, and Culture Governance Board (Item 10) – Council voted 8–? (motion passed) to approve participation in the new board. The board will consist of 17 members (5 city appointees, 5 county, 3 Foundation for the Carolinas, 2 from Mecklenburg towns, 2 from ASCC Grants Committee). Discussion centered on accountability, $11 million city funding ($9 million hardwired to legacy organizations, $2 million for grants to smaller groups and individual artists via an RFP), and concerns about the board’s ability to address original goals of disrupting the status quo. Council members Watlington and Ajmera opposed; others expressed support despite reservations. A separate December 2024 committee vote against using hospitality funds for arts was noted as background.
• Public Hearings on Annexations (Items 6, 7, 8) – Three voluntary annexations were approved without opposition:
  • Baucom Area (12.68 acres, District 4): 115 multi-family units, 9,000 sq ft commercial.
  • Park Crossing Phase 1 (23.545 acres, District 3): 143 multi-family units.
  • River North Area (70.254 acres, District 3): 167 single-family and 261 multi-family units, part of the larger River District project.
• Transportation Grants (Items 11, 12) – Approved unanimously:
  • RAISE grant of $5,000,000 (100% federal) for a cross-jurisdictional safety study focused on disadvantaged communities.
  • SS4A grant of $3,150,000 plus $500,000 from NCDOT for a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan covering 24 jurisdictions.
• Norfolk Southern O-Line Corridor Acquisition Financing (Item 13) – Approved to issue a contract up to $93,000,000 for the Red Line Commuter Rail project.
• Sharon Pointe Apartments NOAH Preservation (Item 14) – Approved $5,100,000 from Housing Trust Fund and a 20-year rental subsidy contract (up to $61,219/year in property tax reimbursement) for 28 units at 30% AMI, plus preservation of 190 total units.

Key Outcomes

• Annexations (Items 6, 7, 8) – Approved unanimously (3 votes each). Effective date February 10, 2025.
• Condemnation Deferral (Items 37, 38, 39) – Motion to approve failed (vote not recorded); motion to defer to February 24, 2025 business meeting passed 10–1.
• Arts, Science, and Culture Governance Board (Item 10) – Approved (8 in favor, opposed by council members Watlington and Ajmera; others not recorded). The board will be formed; $2 million grant RFP will proceed separately.
• Transportation Grants (Items 11, 12) – Approved unanimously.
• Norfolk Southern O-Line Financing (Item 13) – Approved unanimously.
• Sharon Pointe Apartments (Item 14) – Approved unanimously.
• Consent Agenda – Items 25–44 approved except Items 34 (approved separately), 37–39 (deferred), and 43 (pulled but no separate vote recorded; assumed approved as part of consent).
• Nominations – Appointments to several boards and commissions were approved by acclamation for candidates receiving six or more nominations (Bicycle Advisory, Charlotte Business Inclusion Advisory, Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Access Corporation, Historic Landmarks Commission). Remaining nominations (Public Transit Advisory Committee and others) will return at the next business meeting.